AN INVESTIGATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR, RESPIRATORY, AND SKIN TEMPERATURE CHANGES DURING RELAXATION AND ANGER INDUCTIONS.
Contributors: Union Institute (U.S.)
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 318
Subjects: Psychology, Physiological.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Mental Health.
Description: This repeated measures study with 17 subjects investigated the hypotheses that sensory responses associated with emotional states of serenity (relaxation) and anger cause concomitant physiologic responses which could vary depending on subjects' emotion modulation characteristics. Changes were measured in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, heart rate (HR), respirations (R), and skin temperature (ST) responses during specific joints in relaxation, intense anger, and 3 intermediate baseline states. Analysis was done for single subject, as well as pooled data.

The specifically-requested differentiated emotional states of anger and serenity were induced by the Barry Emotion Induction Technique, an investigator-devised method. Induction effectiveness was demonstrated by comparing differences in Spielberger State Anger scores administered during baseline and intense anger states (p = $<$.0003).

Subjects were pre-classified by emotion modulation personality characteristics determined by Spielberger STAXI and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability and Taylor Manifest Anxiety (integrated) Scales (MC/T). STAXI and MC/T scores were used to select prototypes of an anger suppressor, repressor, an expressor, whose physiologic measures were analyzed using a single subject approach.

During relaxation and anger the suppressor showed fear-type increases in SBP, DBP, HR, and R, with a decrease in ST. During relaxation the repressor showed no change in SBP, decreases in DBP, HR, and R, with an increase in ST; while angry, he showed increases in all parameters, with a decrease in ST. The expressor demonstrated decreases in all measures during relaxation. During anger he had decreases in SBP, DBP, and ST, while HR and R increased.

A majority of high scorers on STAXI Anger Control showed fear-type physiologic effects. A postieri study findings showed increases in cardiovascular responses and decreases in ST in most subjects recalling helpless anger memories; those reporting active anger memories showed decreases in cardiovascular measures and increases in ST. No trends were associated with STAXI Anger-in, Anger-out, or MC/T repressors or non-repressors.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-09, Section: B, page: 5012.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNION INSTITUTE, 1991.

School code: 1033.